Thoughts by Dr. Steven Bruns

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Psalm 107 and the Many Ways of God

God connects with people in many different ways, and God uses the best means for a certain person’s situation to work in someone’s life. This goes for those who are already in Christ, growing in grace, and those who are not yet Christian, those whom God is seeking. Psalm 107 shows four different ways God seeks people in order to redeem them. They are separated into four categories–those who have wandered and gotten lost, those who are depressed, those who have sinned, and those who were going about their lives without thought to God:

“Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,because his faithful love lasts forever!”2 That’s what those who are redeemed by the Lord say,the ones God redeemed from the power of their enemies,3 the ones God gathered from various countries,from east and west, north and south.

4 Some of the redeemed had wandered into the desert, into the wasteland.They couldn’t find their way to a city or town.5 They were hungry and thirsty;their lives were slipping away.6 So they cried out to the Lord in their distress,and God delivered them from their desperate circumstances.7 God led them straight to human habitation.8 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful loveand his wondrous works for all people,9 because God satisfied the one who was parched with thirst,and he filled up the hungry with good things!

10 Some of the redeemed had been sitting in darkness and deep gloom;they were prisoners suffering in chains11 because they had disobeyed God’s instructionsand rejected the Most High’s plans.12 So God humbled them with hard work.They stumbled, and there was no one to help them.13 So they cried out to the Lord in their distress,and God saved them from their desperate circumstances.14 God brought them out from the darkness and deep gloom;he shattered their chains.15 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful loveand his wondrous works for all people,16 because God has shattered bronze doorsand split iron bars in two!

17 Some of the redeemed were fools because of their sinful ways.They suffered because of their wickedness.18 They had absolutely no appetite for food;they had arrived at death’s gates.19 So they cried out to the Lord in their distress,and God saved them from their desperate circumstances.20 God gave the order and healed them;he rescued them from their pit.21 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful loveand his wondrous works for all people.22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrificesand declare what God has donein songs of joy!

23 Some of the redeemed had gone out on the ocean in ships,making their living on the high seas.24 They saw what the Lord had made;they saw his wondrous works in the depths of the sea.25 God spoke and stirred up a stormthat brought the waves up high.26 The waves went as high as the sky;they crashed down to the depths.The sailors’ courage melted at this terrible situation.27 They staggered and stumbled around like they were drunk.None of their skill was of any help.28 So they cried out to the Lord in their distress,and God brought them out safe from their desperate circumstances.29 God quieted the storm to a whisper;the sea’s waves were hushed.30 So they rejoiced because the waves had calmed down;then God led them to the harbor they were hoping for.31 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful loveand his wondrous works for all people.32 Let them exalt God in the congregation of the peopleand praise God in the assembly of the elders.

33 God turns rivers into desert,watery springs into thirsty ground,34 fruitful land into unproductive dirt,when its inhabitants are wicked.35 But God can also turn the desert into watery pools,thirsty ground into watery springs,36 where he settles the hungry.They even build a city and live there!37 They plant fields and vineyardsand obtain a fruitful harvest.38 God blesses them, and they become many.God won’t even let their cattle diminish.39 But when they do diminish—when they’re brought down by oppression, trouble, and grief—40 God pours contempt on their leaders,making them wander aimlessly in the wastelands.41 But God raises the needy from their suffering;he makes their families as numerous as sheep!

42 Those who do right see it and celebrate,but every wicked person shuts their mouth.43 Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things,carefully considering the Lord’s faithful love.

God will come to each of us in ways that are tailored to our lives and our circumstances. This is good news. It is also a subtle reminder to those of us who are in Christ already that a one-size-fits-all approach to evangelism or discipleship will not always work. We need to get to know the other people around us and see them as people, not projects. Then real relationships will begin and God can work in all of our lives.